Aamir Khan (Urdu: عامر خان, Hindi: आमिर ख़ान pronounced [ˈaːmɪr ˈxaːn]; born Aamir Hussain Khan on 14 March 1965) is an Indian film actor, director and producer. Khan has worked in a number of critically and commercially successful films and has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema.[1][2][3] He is also the founder-owner of Aamir Khan Productions.

Starting his career as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain’s film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Khan began his professional career eleven years later with the film, Holi (1984). He had his first commercial success with his cousin Mansoor Khan’s film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), for which he won a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. After seven previous nominations during the 1980s and 1990s, Khan received his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in the major grosser Raja Hindustani (1996).[4][5] In 2001, he made his debut as a film producer with the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan. Khan played the lead role in the film and earned his second Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance.

Following a four-year break from acting, Khan made his comeback with Ketan Mehta’s Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), and later won a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance for his role in Rang De Basanti (2006). In 2007, he made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par, for which he received a Filmfare Best Director Award. This was followed by Ghajini (2008), which became the highest grossing film of that year, and 3 Idiots (2009), which became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all-time, unadjusted for inflation.[6] In 2010, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian Cinema.
Early life

Khan was born in Bandra’s Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, India, to a Muslim[7] family that has been actively involved in the Indian motion picture industry for several decades. His father, Tahir Hussain, was a film producer while his uncle, Nasir Hussain, was a film producer as well as a director and an actor.

He is a descendant of the Muslim scholar and politician Maulana Abul Kalam Azad[8] and a second cousin to former Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Dr Najma Heptullah.
[edit] Film career
[edit] Actor

Khan began his film career as a child actor in a home production, made by Nasir Hussain, titled Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) and Madhosh (1974). Eleven years later, he made his adult acting debut in a role that went quite unnoticed in Ketan Mehta’s Holi (1984).

Khan’s first notable leading role came in 1988 in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which was directed by his cousin and Nasir Hussain’s son Mansoor Khan. This film was a breakthrough commercial success, effectively launching Khan’s career as a leading actor. Having the typical ‘chocolate hero’ looks, he was publicised as a teen idol. He also starred in critically acclaimed film Raakh, for which Khan got his first National Award for Special Jury Award. After that, he went on to appear in several other films in the late ’80s and early ’90s: Dil (1990), which became the highest grossing film of the year,[9] Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) (for which he also wrote the screenplay), and Rangeela (1995). Most of these films were successful critically and commercially.[10][11][12] Other successes include Andaz Apna Apna, co-starring Salman Khan. At the time of its release the movie was reviewed unfavorably by critics, but over the years has gained a cult status

Imran Khan (Bengali: ইমরান খান; born Imran Pal, 13 January 1983) is an Indian American film actor. He is the nephew of actor Aamir Khan and producer-director Mansoor Khan. Khan gained popularity for his debut role in the 2008 film, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na.
Early life

Khan was born to Anil Pal,[3] a Bengali Indian-American of mixed Bengali-English origin, and Nuzhat Khan in Wisconsin, USA.[4] His father works as a director of operations engineering at Netflix in Silicon Valley. His parents divorced when he was one and a half years old and he replaced his surname Pal with Khan.[5] He is the nephew of actor Aamir Khan, director Mansoor Khan and the grandson of Nasir Hussain, a noted director and producer. In India, he studied at Bombay Scottish School but left Scottish after standard 4 and moved to a boarding school in Ooty.[6]
[edit] Career
[edit] Child artist

Khan made appearances as a child artist in his uncle Aamir’s films, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)[7] and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). Both times he played the role of a young Aamir Khan. He aspired to be a director, as that was his original plan before he entered Bollywood as an actor. Khan joined Kishore Namit Kapoor’s Acting Institute in Mumbai.
[edit] Breakthrough (2008)

Khan made his debut as a lead actor in the 2008 film, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na directed by Abbas Tyrewala, produced by Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan and co-starring Genelia D’Souza. The film received rave reviews from critics and proved to be one of the biggest hits of the year.[8] Khan was furthermore nominated for Best Male Debut at the 54th Filmfare awards and won it along with Farhan Akhtar.

His next movie was Kidnap with Sanjay Dutt and Minissha Lamba, where he played a negative role. The movie flopped at the box office, attributed by critics to its poorly executed direction. However, Khan’s performance was appreciated and earned him an IIFA Award nomination in 2009. Khan made his next appearance in the action film, Luck with Shruti Haasan and Sanjay Dutt.[9]

In 2010, he appeared in I Hate Luv Storys, directed by debutant Punit Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar.The film was a hit at the box-office. His forthcoming films include, Delhi Belly, an English language comedy directed by debutant Abhinay Deo, and Break Ke Baad directed by debutant Danish Aslam and produced by Kunal Kohli.

Shahid Kapoor (Hindi: शाहिद कपूर; born on 25 February 1981[1]) is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films as well as a trained dancer.
Starting off his career by working in music videos and advertisements, Kapoor made his Bollywood debut as a background dancer in Subhash Ghai’s Taal (1999). Four years later, he made his debut as a lead in Ishq Vishk (2003) and won a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his performance. Following through with acclaimed performances in films like Fida (2004) and Shikhar (2005), he had his first commercial success with Sooraj R. Barjatya’s Vivah (2006), and followed it up with Jab We Met (2007) and Kaminey (2009) which are also his biggest commercial successes so far.
Early career, until 2005

Before starting off his career as an actor, Kapoor worked in several music videos and ads, including the Pepsi commercial with Shahrukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji post Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). While doing so, he decided to join the Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA), where he was later seen in Subhash Ghai’s film Taal (1999) as a background dancer in the song Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jawe along with actress Aishwarya Rai and in Dil To Pagal Hai (1999) of Yash Raj banner with actress Karisma Kapoor.

In 2003, Kapoor played his first leading role as Rajiv Mathur, a carefree young man in Ken Ghosh’s moderately successful love story Ishq Vishk.[2] Appearing opposite Amrita Rao and Shenaz Treasurywala, the film was well received by audiences and Kapoor’s performance earned him a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. Film critic Taran Adarsh from indiaFM wrote, “Shahid Kapur is an actor to watch. He has all the qualities to hit the top slot. Not only is he good looking, but he is an amazing performer as well. Very original as a perormer [sic], the youngster has handled the dramatic and emotional moments with flourish. He is an exceptional dancer as well. All he needs to do is pick and choose his forthcoming assignments with care, so that the journey to the top slot is minus hiccups.”[3]

The following year, Kapoor joined once again with director Ken Ghosh in the thriller Fida, where he co-starred alongside Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan. The film failed to do well at the box office, yet Kapoor’s performance was praised.[4] The Tribune concluded, “…Shahid Kapoor shines in his role. He looks fresh. As an impulsive emotional and innocent guy, who is sucked into crime because of these very qualities, he manages to evoke your sympathies.”[5] He then appeared in the romantic comedy Dil Maange More opposite Soha Ali Khan, Tulip Joshi, and Ayesha Takia. His performance opened to mixed reviews; Rediff.com wrote that “Shahid tends to imitate Shahrukh Khan a lot. He does it well in some scenes, overdoes it in others…”[6]

Featuring in three more films in 2005, success continued to elude Kapoor.[7] However, his performance as Jaidev Vardhan, a man who is sucked into the world of money and greed in John M. Matthan’s drama Shikhar was critically acclaimed, earning Kapoor his first Star Screen Award for Best Actor nomination. According to IndiaFM, “Shahid Kapoor is only improving with every film. He matches up to Ajay in almost all sequences.”

Amitabh Bachchan (Hindi: अमिताभ बच्चन, pronounced [əmɪˈtaːbʱ ˈbətːʃən], born Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan on 11 October 1942), is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the “angry young man” of Bollywood cinema, and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema.
Bachchan has won numerous major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards. He holds the record for most number of Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare Awards. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.
Early life

Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Bachchan hails from a Hindu-Sikh family. His father, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a well-known Hindi poet, while his mother, Teji Bachchan was a Sikh-Punjabi from Faisalabad (now in Pakistan).[3] Bachchan was initially named Inquilaab, inspired from the famous phrase Inquilab Zindabad, during the Indian independence struggle, but was re-named Amitabh which means, “the light that would never go off.” Though his surname was Shrivastava, his father had adopted the pen-name Bachchan, under which he published all his works. It is with this last name that Amitabh debuted in films, and, for all public purposes, it has become the surname of all members of his current family.

Amitabh is the eldest of Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s two sons, the second being Ajitabh. His mother had a keen interest in theatre and had been offered a role in a film, but preferred her domestic duties. She had some degree of influence in Bachchan’s choice of career because she always insisted that he should take the centre stage.[4] He attended Allahabad’s Jnana Prabodhini and Boys’ High School (BHS), followed by Nainital’s Sherwood College, where he majored in the art stream. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College of the University of Delhi and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. In his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Calcutta now known as Kolkata, to pursue a career in acting.
Family
See also: Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai

Bachchan is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. They have two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek is also an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai.
Career
Early work: 1969–1972

Bachchan made his film debut in 1969 as one of the seven protagonists in Saat Hindustani, a film directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and featuring Utpal Dutt, Madhu and Jalal Agha. Though the film was not a financial success, Bachchan won his first National Film Award for Best Newcomer.[5]

The critically acclaimed and commercially successful Anand (1971) followed, where he starred alongside Rajesh Khanna. Bachchan’s role as a doctor with a cynical view of life garned him a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Amitabh then played the role of an infatuated lover in Parwaana (1971) opposite Navin Nischol, Yogeeta Bali and Om Prakash and was a rare instance of him portraying the villain. This was followed by several films which were not particularly successful at the box office including Reshma Aur Shera (1971). During this time, he made a guest appearance in the film Guddi which starred his future wife Jaya Bhaduri opposite Dharmendra. Noted for his deep baritone voice early on in his career, he narrated part of the film Bawarchi. In 1972, he made an appearance in the road action comedy Bombay to Goa, directed by S. Ramanathan. He starred alongside actors such as Aruna Irani, Mehmood, Anwar Ali and Nasir Hussain.
Rise to stardom: 1973–1983

1973 saw significant development in Bachchan’s career when director Prakash Mehra cast him in the leading role for the film Zanjeer (1973) as Inspector Vijay Khanna. The film was a sharp contrast to the romantically themed films that had generally preceded it and established Amitabh in a new persona—the “angry young man” of Bollywood cinema,[2] a reputation he was to acquire in pictures that followed it. It was his first film as the leading protagonist to achieve box office success and earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. 1973 was also the year he married Jaya and around this time they appeared in several films together, not only in Zanjeer but in films such as Abhimaan which followed and was released only a month after their marriage. Later, Bachchan played the role of Vikram in the film Namak Haraam, a social drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and scripted by Biresh Chatterjee addressing themes of friendship. His supporting role opposite Rajesh Khanna and Rekha was praised and won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

In 1974, Bachchan made several guest appearances in films such as Kunwara Baap and Dost, before playing a supporting role in the highest grossing film of that year, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. The film, directed and written by Manoj Kumar, addressed themes of honesty in the face of oppression and financial and emotional hardship was a critical and commercial success, placing Amitabh opposite Kumar himself, Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman. Bachchan then played the leading role in film Majboor, released on 6 December 1974, which was a remake of the Hollywood film Zigzag starring George Kennedy. The film was only a moderate success at the box office[6] In 1975, he starred in a variety of film genres from the comedy Chupke Chupke, the crime drama Faraar to the romantic drama Mili. However 1975 was the year when he appeared in two films which are regarded as important in Hindi cinematic history. He starred in the Yash Chopra directed film Deewar, opposite Shashi Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, and Neetu Singh, which earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. The film became a major hit at the box office in 1975, ranking in at number 4.[7] Indiatimes Movies ranks Deewaar amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.[8] Released on 15 August 1975 was Sholay (meaning flames), which became the highest grossing film of all time in India, earning INR 2,36,45,00,000 equivalent to US$ 60 million, after adjusting for inflation.[9] Bachchan played the role of Jaidev opposite a cast which included some of the top names in the industry including Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Amjad Khan. In 1999, BBC India declared it the “Film of the Millennium” and like Deewar, has been cited by Indiatimes movies as amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.[8] In that same year, the judges of the 50th annual Filmfare awards awarded it with the special distinction award called Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.

After the success of films such as Sholay at the box office, Bachchan had now consolidated his position in the industry and from 1976 through to 1984 would receive an unprecedented number of Filmfare Best Actor Award Awards and nominations. Although films such as Sholay cemented his status as Bollywood’s pre-eminent action hero, Bachchan illustrated that he was flexible in other roles, successfully playing comic timing in comedies such as Chupke Chupke (1975) and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and romantic lead in films such as Kabhie Kabhie (1976). In 1976, he was once again cast by director Yash Chopra in his second film, Kabhi Kabhie, a romantic tale in which Bachchan starred as a young poet named Amit Malhotra who falls deeply in love with a beautiful young girl named Pooja played by actress Rakhee Gulzar. The emotional eclectic of the dialogue and softness of the subject matter proved a direct contrast to some of Amitabh’s earlier grittier action pictures and those he would later go on to play. The film saw him again nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award and was a box office success. In 1977, he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in Amar Akbar Anthony where he played the third lead opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as Anthony Gonsalves. 1978 was possibly the most accoladed year of his career and he starred in all four of the highest grossing films of India in that year.[10] He once again resumed double roles in films such as Kasme Vaade as Amit and Shankar and Don playing the characters of Don, a leader of an underworld gang and his look alike Vijay. His performance won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award and considerable critical acclaim as with his performances in Trishul and Muqaddar Ka Sikander which both earned him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations. On account of this unprecedented run and success he encountered at this stage in his career, he was billed a “one-man industry” by the French director François Truffaut.[11]

In 1979, for the first time, Amitabh was required to use his singing voice for the film Mr. Natwarlal in which he starred alongside Rekha. His performance in the film saw him nominated for both the Filmfare Best Actor Award and the Filmfare Best Male Playback Awards. In 1979, he also received Best Actor nomination for Kaala Patthar (1979) and then went on to be nominated again in 1980 for the Raj Khosla directed film Dostana, in which he starred opposite Shatrughan Sinha and Zeenat Aman. Dostana proved to be the top grossing film of 1980.[12] In 1981, he starred in Yash Chopra’s melodrama film Silsila, where he starred alongside his wife Jaya and rumoured lover Rekha. Other films of this period include Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Lawaaris (1981), and Shakti (1982) which pitted him against legendary actor Dilip Kumar.

Kate Elizabeth Winslet (born 5 October 1975) is an English actress and occasional singer. She has received multiple awards and nominations. She is the youngest person to accrue six Academy Award nominations, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Reader (2008). Winslet has been acclaimed for both dramatic and comedic work in projects ranging from period to contemporary films, and from major Hollywood productions to less publicised indie films. She has won awards from the Screen Actors Guild, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association among others, and has been nominated for an Emmy Award for television acting.

Raised in Berkshire, Winslet studied drama from childhood, and began her career in British television in 1991. She made her film debut in Heavenly Creatures (1994), for which she received her first notable critical praise. She achieved recognition for her subsequent work in a supporting role in Sense and Sensibility (1995) and for her leading role in Titanic (1997), the highest grossing film for more than 12 years until 2010.

Since 2000, Winslet’s performances have continued to draw positive comments from film critics, and she has been nominated for various awards for her work in such films as Quills (2000), Iris (2001), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Finding Neverland (2004), Little Children (2006), The Reader (2008) and Revolutionary Road (2008). Her performance in the latter prompted New York magazine to describe her as “the best English-speaking film actress of her generation”.[1] The romantic comedy The Holiday and the animated film Flushed Away (both 2006) were among the biggest commercial successes of her career.

Winslet was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2000. She has been included as a vocalist on some soundtracks of works she has performed in, and the single “What If” from the soundtrack for Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001), was a hit single in several European countries. Winslet has a daughter with her former husband, Jim Threapleton, and a son with her current husband, Sam Mendes, from whom she is separated. She lives in New York City.

Ranbir Kapoor (Hindi: रणबीर कपूर, born 28 September 1982 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood movies. He first appeared in the 2007 film Saawariya for which he won a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award.
Born into a family of Hindu Pathan origin, Kapoor is the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh; his sister is Riddhima Kapoor. He is the grandson of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, great grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor and nephew of actor Randhir Kapoor. Other notable family members include his cousins Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Nikhil Nanda. As a child, Kapoor studied at Bombay Scottish School in Mahim, Mumbai and went on to pursue method acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.
Before starting off his career as an actor, Kapoor worked as an assistant with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, where he was involved in the making of the film Black (2005).[2] Kapoor later made his acting debut in November 2007 with Bhansali’s Saawariya opposite newcomer Sonam Kapoor. The film failed to do well at the box office,[3] though his performance was largely appreciated. Kapoor was then seen in Siddharth Anand’s romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) alongside Bipasha Basu, Minissha Lamba and Deepika Padukone. The film performed reasonably well at the box office.

Kapoor’s first release of 2009 was Ayan Mukerji’s Wake Up Sid, in which he portrayed the character of Siddharth Mehra, a spoiled and self-centered college student from Mumbai. Featured opposite Konkona Sen Sharma, the film was a critical and commercial success, and Kapoor earned several nominations for Best Actor at various award ceremonies. He next starred alongside Katrina Kaif in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which surfaced as one of the biggest hits of the year.[4] Following this, Kapoor appeared in Shimit Amin’s drama Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year. Upon release, the film received positive reviews by critics but failed to do well.[5] Kapoor’s performance was critically acclaimed, with one critic writing, “Ranbir brings to his part a whole lot of earnestness and heart. His natural and utterly contagious exuberance so much on display in his last two films Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is effortlessly curbed here.”[6]

He recently appeared in Prakash Jha’s multi-starrer blockbuster Rajneeti, which released on June 4, 2010. Kapoor’s forthcoming projects include Siddharth Anand’s Anjaana Anjaani with Priyanka Chopra, and Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar with newcomer Diana Penty.

Sonam Kapoor (Hindi: सोनम कपूर; born 9 June 1985, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood films.
Early life

Kapoor is the daughter of Anil Kapoor and Sunita Kapoor,[1] and the granddaughter of filmmaker Surinder Kapoor.[2] She is the niece of producer Boney Kapoor, actress Sridevi, actor Sanjay Kapoor and producer Sandeep Marwah.[3] Kapoor is the eldest of three children; the others are sister Rhea Kapoor and brother Harshvardhan.[4]

She went to school in Mumbai at the Arya Vidya Mandir school in Juhu and then enrolled in the United World College of South East Asia to do her International Baccalaureate.[1] She is fluent in English, Hindi and Punjabi, and has received training in classical Indian and Latin dance forms.[4] Kapoor also studied at the University of East London and is categorized as a notable alumni.[5]
[edit] Career

Before starting her career off as an actress, Kapoor worked as an assistant under Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and assisted him during the making of his film, Black (2005).[6] She made her acting debut alongside newcomer, Ranbir Kapoor in Bhansali’s Saawariya (2007), which failed to do well at the box office. Her performance was opened to good reviews by most critics.

In 2009, Kapoor appeared in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi-6, opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The film flopped at the box office and received mixed reviews by the critics, but her performance was highly praised. Critic Rajeev Masand commented, “Sonam Kapoor is the revelation in Delhi 6. She’s a firecracker performer, instinctive and uninhibited in what isn’t even a conventional female lead”.

In 2010, she appeared in Punit Malhotra’s I Hate Luv Storys opposite Imran Khan. The film went on to become her first box office success. She is also set to appear in Aisha opposite Abhay Deol.